CLEVELAND PANEL RECOMMENDS RENOVATION OF BROWNS' HOME

A 12-person task force recommended yesterday the renovation
of Cleveland's 63-year old Municipal Stadium rather than build a
new facility for the Browns. The task force, appointed by Mayor
Michael White, previously estimated that renovation would cost
about $130M with interest, while a new stadium would cost $220M,
plus interest and costs of land acquisition and infrastructure.
This recommendation is not binding, the task force will present a
proposal that will include a financing plan by mid-February.
Joseph Roman, chair of the staff assisting the task force:
"Renovation will give us a great facility, and it is clearly the
low-cost alternative." The state is expected to finance "only a
portion of the renovation." These funds could come through a
plan by Governor George Voinovich to help Cleveland and other
cities in the state fund large capital projects through a penny-
a-can beverage tax (Phillips & Koff, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER,
1/27).